Celaya-Hernandez Wins Platform at SEC Championship

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – LSU sophomore diver Juan Celaya-Hernandez won his second Southeastern Conference platform title and third gold medal of his career with a 474.85 and swimmer Harrison Jones set the school record in the 200 fly on day four of the league championships at Texas A&M’s Rec Center Natatorium.

Celaya-Hernandez took home the one-meter springboard win earlier this week and also won platform at the 2017 SEC Championship. Overall, LSU diving coach Doug Shaffer has coached seven SEC champions during his time in Baton Rouge.

“That was a very special event, and I’m so proud of Juan,” Shaffer said. “He excelled in a very elite SEC men’s platform final to take the gold with his mom, dad, aunt, and cousins in attendance. It was a very special moment. I’m also very proud of all of our divers’ performance today. Matthew Phillip also had a nice showing and all of our divers scored today, which is big for our team.”

Phillip finished seventh on platform with a score of 376.40. In prelims of the event, Phillip posted a 402.70 for a career high and the fourth-highest score in school history.

The LSU women sit in 11th overall with a 282 points. The Tigers are in 10th place with 364 points.

Jones finished fifth in the 200 fly championship final while also setting the school record with a time of 1:42.84.

“I’m really thrilled for Harrison today,” LSU swimming coach Dave Geyer said. “He has put the work in for the past year, and he was rewarded with a school record in the 200 fly.”

Harry Ackland finished eighth in the ‘B’ final of the 100 breast for 11 points. In prelims, Ackland posted a time of 53.33 for the third-highest mark in school history. Olivia Paskulin and Summer Spradley also earned spots in the ‘B’ final of the 100 breast and finished fourth and seventh in the event.

Freshman Grace Horton made her first ‘B’ final appearance in the 100 back. Horton hit the wall with a time of 53.72 for the third-best time in school history.

“Overall, there were some solid swims today, but obviously some frustrations with the DQ at the end,” Geyer added. “The way the rules are set up, there was nothing we could do about it. With one more day, we really need to set the tone tomorrow morning for more point scoring opportunities.”

To wrap up day four of competition, the LSU women’s 400 medley relay team finished 10th with a time of 3:37.89. The men’s 400 medley relay team was disqualified on the takeover.

Host Texas A&M stands atop the women’s standings with 953 points, while Florida sits in first place on the men’s side with 876 points.